4th Sunday in Easter
May 2nd, 2020
The Fourth Sunday in Easter is sometimes referred to as ‘Good Shepherd’ Sunday, as reflected in the set readings and selected hymns in this video resource for 3 May 2020.
The service was pre-recorded at St Paul’s Cathedral, Sale, with Bishop Richard presiding, Dean Susanna Pain assisting, and The Ven Sue Jacka preaching. Sue is Archdeacon of the Western Region of the Diocese, and Rector of the Parish of Trafalgar.
Lay Reader and ordination candidate Jackie Belot, Chaplain of Gippsland Grammar, offers a children’s talk, and Jenny Batten helps to lead the singing.
The hymns, the setting for the Eucharist, and the organ postlude, are played by Cathedral organist, Anthony Hahn.
Video link: https://youtu.be/2zs-buM7SZg
Audio: https://soundcloud.com/user-799339262/4th-sunday-in-easter
Following the service, we recorded a ‘fireside chat’ with Archdeacon Sue, and you can view that conversation HERE.
Audio: https://soundcloud.com/user-799339262/getting-to-know-sue-jacka
In the weeks ahead I will be continuing to interview the preachers for these pre-recorded services, as a way of helping us to get to know some of the clergy who exercise leadership roles across the Diocese.
This Sunday, 3 May, is also Justice Sunday, when we focus on the ministry of our prison chaplains and the work of Anglican Criminal Justice Ministry through Anglicare Victoria. An interview with Anglican Chaplain to Fulham Correctional Centre, The Revd Heather Toms, can be found HERE. Audio: https://soundcloud.com/user-799339262/getting-to-know-heather-toms
Our thanks as always to the Cathedral Parish for its hospitality, and to the Registrar for filming and editing ministries.
You may like to practice the tradition of ‘spiritual communion’ as you watch and listen to this Eucharist, and especially at the point of distribution of the Sacrament in this video. The following prayer may be helpful: O Lord Jesus Christ, through your tender mercy grant that as the hem of your garment, touched in faith, healed the woman who could not touch your body, so the soul of this your servant may be healed by like faith in you, whom I cannot now sacramentally receive. In union with the faithful at every altar-table in your Church I desire to be united with you, and pray that you will come spiritually into my heart. Let nothing ever separate me from your love, for you live and reign with the Father and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and forever. Amen.
Please feel free to share this resource with anyone you feel may benefit from it. There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling: one Lord, one faith, one baptism, one God and Father of all, who is above all and through all and in all. (Eph 4:5-6)
May we draw on the unity that is ours in the risen Christ all the more deeply in these days when we feel the pain of separation. Grace and peace, +Richard